Ottawa Humane Society extends adoption days to cope with holiday crowding
Ottawa Humane Society
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
OTTAWA, Ont. (15 December, 2006) – With just days to go before the holidays, the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) is full to capacity with a record number of animals needing care and shelter. In an effort to find families for many deserving animals, the OHS is extending its adoption days through to Dec. 22, which will be the last day before Christmas to give an animal a home.“This December we are caring for more animals than any other December we remember,” says Bruce Roney, OHS Executive Director. “We currently have about 316 animals in our shelter, with even more in foster homes and at our pet store adoption locations. Everyone knows this time of year is generally a busy one, but for us, that is especially true.”
While the OHS does not support the practice of giving animals as impulse gifts, and will not adopt animals intended for that reason, if you and your family have already been considering the prospect of a new pet, the holidays may be a good time to make that happen.
“For many of us, the holidays mean spending more time at home, relaxing with family,” says Roney. “With the proper precautions, Christmas can be a good time to adopt an animal because for some, routines aren’t quite as rushed and there’s more time to focus on the things that really matter.”
If you have planned to add a new pet to your family during the holidays, ensure that you will be home to provide the care and attention your new family member will require as he adjusts to his new environment. Alternatively, you could adopt your pet before Christmas, but wait until after the holidays to bring him home. Consider honouring your family’s pet adoption by placing a photo of him under the tree, or a stuffed animal representative of your new pet, or pet products and accessories for when he does arrive.
Remember, the best holiday present for your pet is plenty of love and attention. Include your pet in your holiday activities and give him or her lots of pats, play time and appropriate exercise.
The OHS will be closed from Dec. 23 and will re-open for adoptions on Dec. 27. Over the Christmas period, all OHS animals will be ‘home for the holidays’ thanks to the generosity of many foster families who will open up their homes and hearts to adoptable dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and more. This will allow all the animals to have a happy holiday, and they’ll return to us in the new year so we can find them new homes.
“It’s wonderful that our foster parents are there for the animals over Christmas,” says Roney. “We’re always happy when an animal is able to spend time in a loving home, but of course we’ll always looking for that home to be a permanent one. That’s why a successful adoption match is the best possible present for an animal any time of the year.”
To learn more about the animals available for adoption at the OHS, visit our website at www.ottawhumane.ca
For media enquiries, contact:
Tara Jackson, Communications Manager
(613) 725-3166 ext. 261
The Ottawa Humane Society is a registered charity founded in 1888. The Society works in and with the community to provide leadership in the humane treatment of all animals, to address the causes of animal suffering, to encourage people to take responsibility for their animal companions, and to provide care for animals who are neglected, abused, exploited, stray, or homeless. Print this page
